MONKEY POX
WHO has
labelled current outbreak of Monkey pox as ‘Public Health Emergency
of International Concerns’. The health body said it was declaring an
emergency as it is essential that all countries work closely to design
and deliver effective information and services to combat monkey pox. So
far this year, over 16,000 cases of monkey pox, and five deaths, have been
reported from 60 WHO member countries.
A multi-country outbreak of monkey pox is currently underway in places where the virus has not been typically found before, in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Western Pacific, and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean. More cases than normal have been reported in 2022 in parts of Africa that have previously reported cases, such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. The current outbreak affecting many countries at once is not typical of previous outbreaks.
FAQs–
What is Monkeypox?
Monkey pox
is an illness caused by the monkey pox virus. (Monkey pox virus (MPXV) is an
enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Ortho pox virus genus
of the Poxviridae family). It is a viral zoonotic infection, meaning that it
can spread from animals to humans. It can also spread from person to person.
How is it transmitted?
Human-to-human
transmission is known to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets As
such, transmission generally requires prolonged close contact with an infected
individual. It can be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or
lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through
contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person.
Who is at risk of catching Monkeypox?
People who live with or have close
contact (including sexual contact) with someone who has monkeypox, or who has
regular contact with animals who could be infected, are most at risk. Health
workers should follow infection prevention and control measures to protect
themselves while caring for monkeypox patients.
New-born infants, young children and
people with underlying immune deficiencies may be at risk of more serious
symptoms, and in rare cases, death from monkeypox. People who were vaccinated
against smallpox may have some protection against monkeypox. However, younger
people are unlikely to have been vaccinated against smallpox because smallpox
vaccination stopped in most settings worldwide after it was eradicated in 1980.
What I can do to protect myself catching Monkeypox?
Following steps to be followed to prevent
getting monkey pox:
Ø Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with
people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
Ø Do not touch the rash or scabs of a
person with monkeypox.
Ø Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex
with someone with monkeypox.
Ø Do not share eating utensils or cups
with a person with monkeypox.
Ø Do not handle or touch the bedding,
towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
Ø Wash your hands often with soap and
water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Ø In Central and West Africa, avoid
contact with animals that can spread monkeypox virus, usually rodents and
primates. Also, avoid sick or dead animals, as well as bedding or other
materials they have touched.
What does it mean to us?
We don’t need to be panic or start taking actions at surrounding
except generating awareness among workforce considering following facts as per
current information.
Monkeypox is a largely self-limiting
disease — which means it will resolve itself on its own, and will leave no
long-term harmful effects on a patient’s health. Most children and adults with
healthy immune systems will not, even if they are infected, come down with
severe illness.
Most often, mode of transmission is
direct body contact. For large respiratory droplets to infect, prolonged
contact is required for transmission of disease as compared to Covid-19.
Therefore, there are minimal chance for it to become workplace issue as per
information available till today.
In India – there are only 3 cases till
now, all of them having travel history and well contained.
Please keep checking local government
guidelines and follow them as soon as available.
Provide clear information to all residents about monkeypox prevention, including the potential for transmission through close physical contact such as sexual activity.